The darling dear, Rebecca Cross, professor, writer, and amazing artist in her own right, orchestrates studio visits and interviews between two artists each quarter for CAN Journal. I’m honored to have been able to visit the studio and chat with Stephen Yusko, a forger and sculptor making some of the most beautiful and technical work around the CLE.

The article is nicely timed as Stephen and I are gearing up for a three person show with Jen Craun at Gallery W. If you’re not familiar, this space is essentially the lobby of the new American Greeting World Headquarters at Crocker Park in Westlake. Its a large, lovely space and we’re excited to work with the kind folks at AG. Our exhibition opens on Thursday, May 2, 2019 with a reception from 5-7pm, and runs through June. Hope to see you there!

Cleveland is a small town. The arts community is even smaller. I've lived and made artwork here all my life and one gets to a point where one thinks they know most (if not all) the artists who make quality work within their community. Thanks to Full Fathom Five, the brainchild of Amber Kempthorn and the curatorial team at Progressive Insurance Art Collection, Scott Westover and Kristin Rogers, I was thankfully shown how ludicrous that notion is.

The program was designed to supplement the international art fair Front that came to Cleveland this summer. Front has been cited by many in the local and national press as failing to showcase the rich and diverse arts community in Cleveland. Full Fathom Five strove to provide outsiders traveling to Cleveland for the "cultural exercises" of Front a comprehensive exhibition of the high caliber artists working in the Northeast Ohio area. But, not only is this an exhibition of extraordinary work, the process by which the artists were selected was a remarkable, and community building cultural exercise in itself.

Five artists, professors at The Cleveland Institute of Art, were selected and asked to choose one other artist, whose work they admire, to be included in the exhibition. There was just one catch, the chooser could not personally know, or be very well acquainted with, the choosee. Each artist in exhibition had a studio visit with the curators of the Progressive Art Collection. Additionally, the chooser would accompany the curators on the studio visit of their choosee. There were 5 rounds of artists, with studio visits for all, culminating in an exhibition of work from all 30 artists. See information on the concept here. See the participating artists here.

Organizing this many visits, artwork selection and pickup was a massive undertaking and the generosity of the curators, Scott and Kristin, was humbling. As was the nurturing nature of the program as a whole. Relationships between artists developed and flourished. It could be felt at the openings around the city this summer as we caroused and celebrated each other. We were bolstered, rejuvenated. Visitors to the exhibition at Progressive’s Campus II in Mayfield off SOM Center Road will see this demonstrated in the text written by the artists and curators on view with the work. There is a public reception, Thursday, September 6, from 6-9pm. RSVP is required to attend and can be done online here.

I forgot to post about the opening party for the CAN Triennial that I attended last night, but I'm trying to redeem myself now about the other events for the Triennial that I'll be attending. I hope I'll see some you at 78th Street Studios!

Saturday-Sunday, July 14-15: Gallery Pavilion16 of the finest Ohio dealers, studios and collectivesnoon to 6 pm

Howdy folks. Just wanted to let you know (in case you check here because I'm unresponsive), my email dmo@danaoldfather.com is currently down. I'm working with my domain and new email host to get it up and running but I've been informed they will get back to me in 48-72 hours. If you need to reach me in the mean time, you can do so through my alternate email: danaoldfather@gmail.com. I have also listed this on my contact page. Thanks a bunch!!